Assaults on police ‘must never be normalised’, says chair

20 February 2026

Dyfed Powys Police Federation chair Delme Rees says the human cost of violence against police is too often overlooked.

Delme welcomed a Government acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by police officers.

But he said that now needed to be backed up by meaningful and tangible actions.

He was commenting on a statement by Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP to the House of Commons presenting the Police Covenant annual report to the House of Commons.

Ms Jones said: “The Police Covenant demonstrates a recognition by Government, policing and society of the sacrifices involved in police work.

Police Covenant

“The covenant sets out to ensure that members of the police workforce suffer no detriment as a result of their role.”

She added: “It is my ambition, and that of the Government as a whole, that the covenant should leave the police workforce in no doubt that we are on your side and will support you.

“You do so much to protect us, it is only right that we protect you.”

Delme said the recognition was welcome, but officers continue to face unacceptable levels of violence, financial pressure, and strain on their mental wellbeing.

He said: “It is positive to hear a minister openly acknowledge the sacrifices that policing demands.

 

Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP

 

“However, our members will judge the covenant on whether it leads to real improvements in their day-to-day working lives.”

Delme pointed to figures in the covenant report that show an average of 115 police officers and staff are assaulted every day across England and Wales.

“That statistic should shock everyone,” he said. “Behind every number is a mum or dad, a son or daughter, a colleague of ours who has gone to work to protect the public and has instead been met with violence or abuse.

“The human cost is enormous and is too often overlooked. This can’t be normalised.

“We need the criminal justice system to back police officers and use the full range of sentencing powers to make it clear that attacks on police will not be tolerated.”

Rising living costs

Delme said pay, conditions, and resourcing were another key concern.

He said that years of real-terms pay erosion have left many officers struggling to cope with rising living costs.

Delme said: “If the Government wants officers to believe it is on their side, restoring police pay would be a powerful place to start.

“Officers are proud to serve their communities, but pride doesn’t pay the bills. Fair pay and proper investment in the service as a whole would send a clear message that policing is valued.”

Suicide prevention is a core part of the Polcie Covenant, and Delme also stressed the importance of supporting officers’ mental health.

Suicide

Data recently released by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) shows that more than 100 police officers and staff died by suicide between 2022 and 2025, with more than 200 attempted suicides recorded over the same period. PFEW has warned the true figure may be higher due to inconsistent recording.

Delme said: “This has been described as the quiet crisis in policing, but it’s a crisis that can’t be properly addressed until we properly understand it.

“Which is why the Government must make the recording of police suicides and attempted suicides mandatory. That needs to be alongside sustained investment in mental health and wellbeing services.”

Read the Police Covenant annual report.